Welcome to DEF CON 34

The founder opens DEF CON 34 by asking first-timers and returning attendees to raise their hands, then explains how the conference works as a set of smaller communities. With roughly 27,000 people present, he describes how villages and hands-on activities such as lock picking or robot hacking split attendees into small groups where they can meet people who share their interests. He says there is no single correct way to attend and encourages people to make a few plans a day and expect many side trips.

He traces the event's inclusive culture to its early years, when people judged each other by their ideas because there were no photos or video. He explains how the code of conduct was written down, how a safety team was formed, and why a public transparency report was published to earn trust. A disinvitation dispute that went to court is cited as an example of following through on those commitments. This year's theme is agency, which he frames as self-determination and community support during fast, AI-driven change.

He closes with anniversaries: 20 years of the electronic badge, 30 years of capture the flag, and the first year under new CTF organizers. He also notes that an AI agent won a challenge last year without its operator realizing it, which raises open questions about the future of CTF. The takeaway he gives is to try unfamiliar things, admit mistakes, and look for your community rather than chasing career credentials.